e Battle near Spotsylvania Courthouse 



X li< 



on May i8th, 1864. 



AN ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BEFORE 



R. E. Lee Camp, No. i,C:V. 



ON THE NIGHT OF 



JANUARY 20, 1905, 



BV 



Coi.. W. E. CUTSHAW. 



PUBLISHED BY 

R. E. LEE CAMP, No. 1, CONFEDERATE VETERANS 
Richmond, Va. 




ass 



hdOK 



Eifi^ 






pri:.si;nti-;1) i;y 



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The Battle near Spotsylvania Courthouse 
on May i8th, 1864. 



AN ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BEFORE 



R. E.Lee Camp, No. I, C.V. 



ON THE NIGHT OF 



JANUARY 20, 1905, 



COL. W. E. CUTSHAW. 



PUBLISHED BY 

R. E. LEE CAMP. No. 1. CONFEDERATE VETERANS 
Richmond, Va. 



.6Z 



W'.V. ELLIS JONES, 

PRINTER, 
RICHMOND, VA. 



V . Ul. W Lav\ivv0vvotcrvv 



? 



ADDRESS. 



My Comradps : 

In accepting your kind invitation to repeat the address made be- 
fore the Association of Kichniond Howitzers, I beg to refer to the 
dates of the several battles and engagements in the neighborhood 
of Spotsylvania Court-honse that the distinct points of this address 
may be clearly brought forth, without confusion or mixing with 
those of other dates. 

After the battles of the Wilderness, the army of the Potomac, 
under General Grant, moved to the left towards Spotsylvania. 
The army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee, also moved and 
confronted th.e jSTorthern army, and, on the 8th of May, had an 
engagement with it near Spotsylvania Court-house. On the lOtii 
of May portions of the Confederate lines were attacked by the 
Federal army and repulsed. On the 12th of May the centre of the 
Confederate lines was assaulted and broken by the Federal army 
at what was known as the Salient, or Bloody Angle, threatening a 
great disaster to the Confederate army. On the 13th of May the 
Confederate lines were moved back to a revised position, nearly a 
mile in rear of the former Salient, and these new lines were as- 
saulted by an early morning attack of May 18th by very nearly 
the same Federal troops that were engaged on the 12th. It is 
this attack and repulse that makes the subject of my paper. Both 
the army of the Potomac and the army of Northern Virginia had 
seen service in the field for nearly three years, and in every essen- 
tial were, indeed, veteran soldiers. It is doubtful if the courage 
and the endurance of any soldiers in any army was surpassed by 
that of the Confederate soldier, and his example, either in attack 
or resistance, is not surpassed by the armies of the world, impelled 
as he was by the purest patriotism under unexampled Christian 
leaders to do his duty, with none of that fatalism characterizing 
the reckless fighting of Mohammedans, Hindoos and Japanese. 

The field of this engagement is embraced between the Po and the 
Ny rivers, branches of the Mattapony, a rolling, undulating, well- 



wooded country, intersected by small branches from these streams, 
which are sometimes low and marshy. The map herewith presented 
is an enlarged one, taken from one of the War Record's office, and 
show.s, marked in red and black, the lines of the works occupied by 
the troops of both armies engaged in the several battles in this 
neighborhood. The positions of the armies on May 18th. 1864, 
were as follows : 

CONFEDERATE ARMY. 

Longstreet's First Corps (Anderson commanding), on the ex- 
treme Confederate right, composed of: 

Kershaw's Division, Field's Division, Pickett's Division (absent), 
with the artillery of this corps. Xot in action as far as known. 

Hill's Third Corps (Early commanding), in centre on left of 
Anderson, composed of: 

Anderson's Division, Heth's Division. Wilcox's Division, with 
the artillery of this corps. Infantry not in action, but Third Corps 
guns replying to Warren's. 

Ewell's Second Corps, next on the extreme Confederate left, 
composed of: 

Early's (Gordon) Division, perhaps slightly; Johnson's Di- 
vision, partly in action: Eodes' Division (possibly), slightly, with 
the artillery of this corps. Firing in a desultory manner from the 
works, with infantry, but with 29 guns vigorously in action also 
firing from works, and as follows: 

GUXS. 

Second Howitzers (Jones'), Third Howitzers (Smith's), Pow- 
hatan Artillery (Dance's), Salem Artillery (Griffin's) ... 15 

Orange Artillery (Fry's), with men of other batteries; Staun- 
ton Artillery (Garber's), with men of other batteries. ... 8 

Guns from either Braxton or Nelson 6 

29 

FEDERAL ARMY. 

Warren's Fifth Corps, on the Federal left, composed of: 
Four Divisions— 24,423 April 30th, and 19.321 June 1st. In- 
fantry not in action, but 26 guns were, as a diversion in front of 
Hill's Corps. 



Hancock's Second Corps, next to Fifth and to the right of it, 
composed of: 

Four Divisions— 27,007 April 30th, and 28,337 June 1st. Bar- 
low's and Gibbons' Divisions in the assault, with 16 guns in action. 
(1st New Hampshire, 1st Rhode Island, 4th U. S., and 1st Xew 
York.) 

Wright's Sixth Corps, next to Second and to its right, com- 
posed of: 

Three Divisions — 23,165 April 30th, and 20,390 June 1st. 
Getty's and Russell's Divisions in the assault, assisted by Hancock's 
guns. 

Burnside's Ninth Corps, next to Sixth and on the extreme 
right, composed of four divisions— 19,840 April 30th, and 18,147 
June 1st. Potter's and Crittenden's Divisions in the assault, 
with sixteen guns in action. (2nd Maine, 14th Massachusetts, 
7th Maine, and 24th New York.) 

The above numbers are from the official returns of these dates 
and Gibbons' report (10,734) is for his division on May 16th. No 
numbers in the field returns are given of the Confederate army 
about this period, and of the Federal army, with the exception of 
Gibbons' Division of May 16th, are for April 30th and June 1st 
1864. 

Taking Gibbon's Division at 10 000 ) 

Barlow's Division at 3,^500 j °^* °^ ^^'^^^ 

Getty's Division at . . 3 000 ) 

Russell's (Wheaton's) Division at s'oOO j ^"^ °^ 20,000 

Potter's Division at 3,000 ) 

Crittenden's (Ledley's) Division at 2,'500 j °^^^ °^ 18,000 

'-Total, 25,000 

We may safely assume that 25,000 infantry were in the char-e 
of tTie assaulting columns of the Federal armv, supported by the 
fire of 32 guns, and that 29 rapidly served guns, together with a 
light desultory infantry fire on the Confederate side, were ready to 
meet it. 

With these forces engaged, the action commenced early on the 
morning of the 18th, with the retirement of the Confederate pickets 
and skirmishers, and the advance of the Federal infantrv in the 



G 

several formations referred to in the reports. That this was a 
matured plan, settled upon by Generals Grant and Meade, and at- 
tempted in execution in a determined manner to carry the Confed- 
erate works on Ewell's front, the following quotations from the 
published official records fully establish : 

Major- General Humphrey's, Chief of Staff to General Meade, 
page — of his book, says : 

"It had been suggested by Maior-General Wright, and also by 
myself, that, after the lapse of a few days, a return by night to 
the enemy's left, which would probalily be abandoned, or very much 
weakened by our concentration on his right, might afford a good 
opportunity to attack there. General Wright's suggestion was for 
his corps only to undertake it; but it was concluded to send both 
the Second and Sixth C*orps, and on the ITth Generals Hancock 
and Wright were ordered to move their troops in the night to the 
works captured on the 12th, and attack the enemy's new intrench- 
luents tbere at daylight on the 18th, the Sixth Corps on the right 
of the Second. General Burnside was directed to attack in con- 
junction with them, and General Warren to open his artillery at the 
same time and be prepared for the offensive. The Second Corps, 
being nearest to the point of attack, led, the Sixth Corps follow- 
ing. The troops were in the position designated before daylight, 
and at 4 A. M. Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to assault, their 
troops in lines of brigades. Birney and Tyler were held in re- 
serve. The artillery was posted in the first line of works at the 
apex of the salient, firing over the troops. The Sixth Corps ad- 
vanced on the right of the Second. But the eneiuy was on the 
alert, and the new intrenchments across the base of the Salient were 
of the most formidable character, being concealed on their right 
by woods, and having on that part of their front a heavy slashing, 
and on their left front, which was in the open ground of the Har- 
rison farm, lines of abatis. As the troops approached, they were 
met with a heavy musketry and artillery fire which comj)letely 
swept the ground in front ; but, notwithstanding, they passed for- 
ward to the slashing, and abatis, and made several gallant attempts 
to carry the enemy's lines, but without success. 

"Upon its being reported to Oneral Meade that there was but 
little probability of the enemy's lines being carried, he directed 
L 



the attack to be discontinued, and the troops were accordingly with- 
drawn. 

"General Burnside made the attack directed on the morning of 
the 18th, with the Divisions of Crittenden and Potter, and all his 
artillery, uniting on the right with Hancock, but could not carry 
the enemy's intrenchments. The artillery of the Fifth Corps also 
opened and continued its fire for several hours." 

Mr. Chas. A. Dana in his report, pages 72 and 73 of records, 
to Secretary Staunton, says: "The report of General Wright, who 
had reconnoitered the ground over which our proposed attack upon 
the enemy's right was to be made, caused General Grant to change 
the plan detailed in my dispatch of last evening. Instead of attack- 
ing on our left Hancock and AVright have made a night march to 
our right flank and attacked at daylight upon the same lines 
where Hancock made his successful assault on Thursday last. We 
have as yet no news of the result. Warren's guns opened a heavy 
fire upon the Kebel lines at the Courthouse at 4:30, and Hancock 
and Wright made their attack this morning in good style, forced 
the first and second lines of Rebel rifiepits, and for a time were 
confident that at last they had struck the lair of the enemy, but 
advancing through the forest each corps presently found itself con- 
fronted by heavy interior works, protected, especially in Hancock's 
line of advance by impassible abatis. Barlow's division of Han- 
cock's corps attempted in vain to charge through this obstacle, and 
held their ground before it for an hour or more under a galling 
fire of canister. The difficulty of storming the Rebel intrenched 
camp on that side being evidently of the most extreme character, 
and both corps having artfully, but unsuccessfully, sought for a 
weak point where they might break through. Grant at 9 o'clock 
ordered the attack to cease. 

"Warren maintained a vigorous artillery duel with the Rebel bat- 
teries around the Courthouse until 11 o'clock, when both parties 
ceased firing. Our losses by the morning's work are reckoned by 
General Meade at 500 killed and wounded." 

Medical Director McParlin, page 232 of Records, says, "On the 
morning of the 18th the Second Corps moved to the right and 
attacked the enemy's works; 552 wounded were the result, and the 
character of the wounds were unusually severe, a large projiortion 
being caused bv sliell and canister." 



Major-General Hancock, page 337, says, "On the 17th, Tyler's 
division of heavy artillery, Brigadier-General R. 0. Tyler command- 
ing, and the Corcoran Legion (infantry) joined the Second Corps, 
making in all a re-enforcement of 8,000 men. The Corcoran 
Legion was assigned to Gibbon's division. I had received orders 
during the day to move my command to the works I had captured 
on the 12th, and to attack the enemy at daylight on the 18th, in the 
entrenchments he then held in front of that position. The Sixth 
Corps was directed to form on my right and assail the enemy's line 
at the same hour. Before daylight on the 18th, the troops were in 
the position designated and the preparations for the attack com- 
pleted. At 4 A. M., Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to the 
assault, their troops in line of brigades. My artillery was posted 
in the first line of works, firing during the action over our troops 
in front. Birney and Tyler were in reserve. The enemy held a 
strong line of intrenchments about one-half mile in front of and 
parallel to the works we had stormed on the 12th. His position was 
concealed by the forest and protected by heavy slashing and abatis. 

"As our troops approached his line they encountered a severe firo 
of musketry and artillery, which completely swept his front, mak- 
ing great havoc in our ranks. They pressed forward however, until 
they arrived at the edge of the abatis, which with the heavy fire, 
arrested their progress. Many gallant attempts were made by our 
troops to penetrate the enemy's line, but without success. Finding 
that I was losing quite heavily, and there was but little probability 
of my being able to carry the enemy's position, I communicated the 
state of affairs to the major-general commanding, and was directed 
by him to discontinue the attack. Accordingly at 10 A. M. I with- 
drew my troops and occupied the line of works in front of the Lan- 
drum House." 

General Hancock, page 361 of Records, says, "May 17, 1864, 8 
A. M., Tyler's division, about 8,000 strong, mostly heavy artillery, 
joined the Second Corps, which will re-enforce us sufficiently to 
make up our losses at the Wilderness, the Po, and Spotsylvania. 
The division massed near the Fredericksburg road. 

"JSTo movement of the Second Corps until dark, when we marched 
back to the works we had captured on the 12th, instant, at which 
point it is determined again to assault the enemy to-morrow morn- 
ing. 



9 

"4 :10 A. M,, Barlow's and Gibbon's divisions having been formed 
in front of the captured works moved forward to assail the enemy 
in the lines he had occupied after the battle at this point on the 
12th. Tyler's division in reserve in rifle-pits running from the 
Landrum House to the Salient, Birney's division still remaining 
with General Burnside. " Gibbon's and Barlow's divisions now tra- 
versed the same ground which we had fought so desperately on six 
days since, and as but a portion of the dead of that dav's contest 
had been buried, the stench which arose from them was so sickening 
and terrible that many of the men and officers became deathly 
sick from it. The appearance of the dead who had been exposed to 
the sun so long, was horrible in the extreme as we marched past and 
over them, a sight never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. 
"At 4:10 A. M., Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to- the 
assault, their troops in line of brigades. My artillery was posted 
in the first line of works, firing during the action over our troops 
in front. 

"As soon as our lines came within range we were received with a 
most destructive fire of musketry and artillery from the eneni}', who 
was snugly fixed in heavy intrenchments protected by abatis. Our 
men gallantly rushed on until they came to the edge of this abatis, 
which was so heavy and firm that they could not penetrate it under 
the fire, and our lines stood at that point delivering their fire nntil 
10 o'clock, when we were withdra^Ti, it being found impracticable 
to carry the position and our losses were heavy in this assault in 
killed and wounded. The Sixth Corps attacked at the same time 
with us on our right, with the same result." 

General Francis C. Barlow, page 369 of Records, says, "Attacked 
the enemy's left May 18th." 

General John R. Brooke, of Barlow's division of Hancock's Corps, 
page 411 of Records, says, "At 4:10 A. M., moved fon\^ard in sup- 
port of Second and Third Brigades, which were ordered to attack 
the enemy. Occupied the position taken on the 13th, and remained 
there. No fighting done by my brigade, though exposed to a heavy 
artillery fire throughout the da}^, losing heavily in officers and men. 
The assault made on our part of the line was not successful." 

Major-General John Gibbon, of Hancock's Corps, pages 431 and 
432 of Records, says, "At daylight on the 18th, the division was in 
position at the breastworks taken on the 12th, ready for another 



10 

assault on the enemy's interior line. The Corcoran Legion, Colonel 
Mathew Murphy, Sixty-ninth Regiment, jSTeAV York National Guard 
Artillery, commanding, had the day before joined the army and 
been assigned to my division as the Fourth Brigade, and Colonel 
Thomas S. Smyth, First Delaware Volunteers, and Colonel H. B. 
]\IcKeen, Eighty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, reported to me for 
duty, and were assigned to the command of the Third and First 
Brigades, respectively. The division was formed in two lines, the 
first line composed of McKeen's and Murphy's Brigades (First and 
Fourth) in line of battle connecting with Barlow's division on the 
left, and the Sixth Corps on the right, and supported by the second 
line. Owen's and Smyth's brigades (Second and Third) formed in 
the line of battalions en masse. Directly in front of the center of 
my line was a thick, heavy wood, which prevented any considerable 
IDortion of the division from being seen from any one point. The 
troops moved to the assault at 4 :30 A. M., and gallantly carried 
some of the enemy's works in their front, when the second line was 
ordered forward in support. We soon, however, came upon the 
enemy's main line of works well manned both with infantrv and 
artillery, and protected in front with abatis, from which the fire 
was so heavy that the troops made no headway against it and were 
forced to retire'' 

Colonel Thomas A. Smyth, of Hancock's Corps, page -i-iD of 
Records, says, 'T assumed command of this brigade by order of 
Brigadier-General Gibbon, May 17, 1864, the army then being in 
the vicinity of Spotsylvania Courthouse. About 10 :30 P. M., I 
was ordered to mass the brigade in front of the Landrum House, 
and near the vacated line of the enemy's intrenchments, before 
daylight, which was accomplished, the brigade being in column of 
battalions between the Landrum House and the road. Subse- 
quently it Avas deployed into line by battalions in mass, and I was 
ordered by Brigadier-General Gibbon to move forward in support 
of the Corcoran Legion. At daylight the Legion moved forward and 
I followed at short supporting distance. The first line was repulsed, 
and my brigade taking a position in a ravine covered their retreat. 
I at once deployed a line of skirmishers and held this position until 
12:35 P. M.. when in olyedience to orders from General Gibbon, I 
withdrew to tlie second line of intrenchments." 

Colonel John ('. Tidhail. Chief Artillery. Hancock's C*orps, page 



11 

510 of Eeeords, says, "May 18th moved from Harris' house to the 
deserted house, and Eoder, Ames, and Rickett's to Landrum's. 
Sent EdgelFs hattery to Colonel Tompkins. Brown, Roder and 
Ames, in first line, silenced Rebel battery; 13 M. still in position. 
Clark and Ricketts moved down to works on extreme right. Edgall 
already there with Birneys division." 

General G. K. Warren, page 542 of Records, says, "May 18, 1864, 
whole army had moved off to our right to make an assault on the 
enemy, and I commenced a cannonade at daylight with 26 guns, as 
a diversion. This occasioned a brisk artillery duel between myself 
and Hill's Corps. Our forces found the enemy prepared and 
strongly posted on the right, and made no serious attack."' 

Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, Chief Artillery, Warren's Corps, 
page 644 of Records, says, "May 18,1864. Second and Sixth Corps 
having returned to the right of the general line, and so uncovered 
the left. Hart's Bigelow's and Walcott's batteries of light 12 pound- 
ers were posted in the neighborhood of the Anderson house to pro- 
tect that flank, should the enemy attack there. Before daylight 
Rittenhouse's battery was pushed forward on the pike to our ad- 
vanced works, about 1,400 yards from the Courthouse, and was 
joined by Taft's (Fifth New York Independent) battery of six 20 
pounder Parrotts, which had temporarily joined the brigade the 
night before, and Sheldon's battery, making 14 guns, under com- 
mand of Major Fitzhugh. At the same time Captain Cooper, with 
his own, Breck's and Phillips' batteries, making 12 three-inch guns, 
was posted on a sharp knoll to the front, and some 400 yards to the 
left of Major Fitzhugh 's line, making an angle of about 60 degrees 
with it. The position of all these batteries was excellent. The first 
w^as protected by fair works, and the rapid descent of the knoil 
from the rear to Cooper's afforded excellent shelter for the limbers. 
The enemy had 20 pieces behind their lines, in front and to their 
right of the Courthouse. At the time the Second Corps advanced 
on the right tlie batteries on both sides opened. The engagement 
was brisk for near three-quarters of an hour, and the practice on 
both sides was verv accurate. Fire was kept up at intervals during 
the day A\dthout any express object, and with no perceptible result, 
except the silencing of the enemy's guns.'' 

General George W. Getty, of Wright's Corps, page 679 of Records, 
savs, "On the nie-ht of the ITth. (May 1864), the division moved 



1:2 

back to the angle, and having formed in columns of brigades in the 
following order from front to rear, Wheaton's (First), Edward's 
(Foiirtli), Bidwell's (Third), and Grant's (Second), in conjunc- 
tion with the Second Corps and the remainder of the Sixth, made 
an attack at daylight on the enemy's position on the right and front 
of the angle. The attack was not successful, and the division was 
withdrawn." 

Ben. Frank Wheaton, of Wright's Corps, pages 685 and 68G of 
Record, says, "Remained in the camp until May 17, (1864), when 
at 8 :30 P. M., the brigade moved with the rest of the division to 
the extreme right of the army opposite the angle, mentioned May 
12, and the scene of the obstinate fighting of that day, and formed 
at 3 :30 A. M., May 18, on the right of the Second Corps. At 4 :30 
A. M., in conjunction with the Second Corps, on the left, we moved 
fonvard to assault the enemy's position, a quarter mile beyond his 
works vacated the 13th. The advance was conducted in good order, 
notwithstanding the many natural and artificial obstacles in the 
vicinity of the enemy's old line of pits, until we arrived within 
300 3^ards of their new position, when they suddenly opened Avith 
canister and musketry. The brigade line extended from left to 
right in the following order: One Hundred and Second Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Ninety- 
eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Sixty-second New York Volun- 
ters. One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers. The 
other brigades of the division were in successive lines in rear. The 
fire of the enemy was mainly directed to the One Hundred and 
Second and Ninety-third Pennsylvania Vohmteers, as they were 
exposed through a large opening in the woods. At this point also 
the line was at right angles with an interior line of works, which 
had been vacated by the enemy and was untenable to us. The 
traverses and abatis in rear and front of these works and the severe 
artillery fire M'hich enfiladed them rendered it impossible to keep 
the line connected, and the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers 
was moved by a flank in rear of tlie Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers. As the Second Corps had been checked in its advance 
and its right had fallen back, leaving my flank exposed, and nothing 
as yet had formed on my right, I deemed it unsafe to advance 
farther, and the brigade was halted where the above separation 
occurred — the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Voluntwrs 



13 

on the left and the balance of the brigade on the right under cover 
of the woods. The enemy continued to shell both positions for an 
hour, the brigade and the lines in support losing many men and 
officers therefrom. At 8 o'clock the brigade of Colonel Smith, of 
the Third Division formed on the right. At 9 o'clock a staff officer 
of the division commander came for the first time to learn the 
situation of affairs, to whom I represented the impracticability of 
a farther advance. A short time after I received orders direcj: from 
the corps commander to -withdraw, which was done successfully 
under cover of the woods." 

General L. A. Crrant, of Wright's Corps, page G96 of Record, 
says, "At daylight on the morning of the 18th, both corps charged 
the enemy's position. This brigade was formed in two lines of 
battle, the old regiments in front and the Eleventh Regiment con- 
stituting the second line. Three brigades, each formed in one line 
of battle, were in our front. An advance of about half a mile was 
made under a heavy artillery fire. This brigade (constituting the 
fourth and fifth lines) came up on the- first line in the advance and 
halted. No farther advance was made, and the troops in our front 
retired. After holding the front line for some time, the whole 
command was ordered to retire, which was done in good oder. Our 
loss, though not so heavy as in other engagements, was considerable, 
principally from artillery." 

General D. D. Bidwell of Getty's division, Wright's Corps, page 
720 of Records, says, "On the evening of the 17th (May, 1864), 
we moved to the position in front of the angle, where on the even- 
ing of the 18th, the division was formed in four lines of a brigade 
each. We were in the third line, and it getting light the advance 
was made without waiting for the Third division to complete their 
formation. Upon advancing, the Second Corps gave way on our 
left, and the two front lines obliquing to the left, brought us in 
the front line, and the Third division failing to advance exposed us 
to an artillery fire, which took us in reverse, on the flank (and) in 
front. The line on our left halting, our line was halted where we 
remained until withdrawn by orders. In this engagement our loss 
was heavy and most from artillery." 

General A. E. Burnside, pages 910 and 911 of Records, says, "On 
the morning of the 18th (May, 1864), a general attack was made 
on the enemv's line, and after two or three charges by the divisions 



14 

of Generals Crittenden and Potter, which resulted in considerable 
loss, it was concluded that it could not be carried by assault. Some 
ground, however, was gained which commanded parts of their line. 
This attack was well supported by the artillery, particularly by the 
batteries of General Wilcox's division." 

General J. H. Ledlie, of Burnside's Corps, pages 917 and 918, 
of Records, says "On the 18th of May (1861), I received orders to 
advance upon and feel the enem3^"s position. I pushed forward my 
brigade, composed of the Fourth and Tenth U. S. Infantry, Thirty- 
fifth, Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh and Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, which moved up in admirable style, and reached the abatis 
in front of them, and it being impossible to penetrate this, I ordered 
the brigade to fall back and did so, receiving a terrible fire from the 
enemy. The officers and men behaved with great gallantry, and 
deserve much credit." 

General R. B. Potter, of Burnside's Corps, page 920 of Record, 
says, "The usual skirmishing and artillery firing continued till the 
morning of the 18th (May, 1864), when we attacked the enemy 
with vigor all along the line, made three charges on his works and 
met with considerable loss. We did not succeed in carrying his 
works, but gained some important ground, rendering parts of his 
line untenable." 

General W. X. Pendleton, General Lee's Chief of Artillery, pages 
1054 and 1056, of Records, says, "(May 12, 1864) Major Cutshaw 
was assigned to the coanmand of Hardaway's battalion and Major 
Page put in command of the combined remnants of his own and 
Cutshaw^s battalions. 

"On the morning of the 18th, the enemy again attempted to carry 
the line still held by the Second corps, near the scene of the former 
conflict. This time, however, he met gams in position to receive 
him. His hea^7 force was allowed to get within good range of our 
breastworks. There the guns under Colonel Carter (Hardaway's 
battalion cojnmanded by Cutshaw and Page's reorganized) opened 
upon him a murderous fire of spherical case and canister, which at 
once arrested his advance, threw his columns into confusion, and 
forced liim to retreat in disorder. Heavily as he suffered on this 
occasion, our loss was nothing, and this was accomplished against 
a force of 12,000 picked infantry by twenty-nine pieces of artillery 
alone, but well handled." 



15 

CTeneral R. S. Ewell, page 1073 of Eecords, says, "As it was im- 
advisable to continue efforts to retake the salient with the force at 
my coniTOand, a new line was laid out durincr the day by General 
Lee's chief engineer, some 800 yards in rear of the first and con- 
structed at night. After midnight my forces were quietly with- 
drawn to it and artillery placed in position, but his efforts and losses 
on the I'^th seemed to have exhausted the enemy, and all was quiet 
till May 18 (1864), when a strong force advanced past the McCool 
house toward our new line. When well within range General Long 
opened upon them with thirty pieces of artillery, which with the 
fire of our skirmishers, broke and drove them back with severe loss. 
We afterwards learned that they were two fresh divisions, nearly 
10,000 strong, just come up from the rear." 

General A. L. Long, Chief Artillery, Ewell's Corps, pages 1087 
and 1088 of Eecords, says, "Everything remained quiet along the 
lines till the morning of the 18th (May, 1864). The enemy about 
9 A. M. advanced a heavy force against our new line. He was 
allowed to come within good canister range of our breastworks. 
Carter's division of artillery tlien opened a most murderous lire of 
cannister and spherical case-shot, which at once arrested his ad- 
vance, threw his columns into confusion, and forced him to a dis- 
orderly retreat. His loss was very heavy; ours was nothing. This 
attack fairly illustrates the immense power of artillery well handled. 
A select force of 10,000 or 12,000 infantry was broken and driven 
from the field in less than thirty minutes by twenty-nine pieces of 
artillery alone." 

This account given in the ])ul:)lished reports of each side seems 
somewhat at variance, looking at it from opposite sides as we do. 
It may not, therefore, be out of place to speak of the action as it 
must have appeared to the Confederates. They were quietly 
posted in the new line of works on Ewell's front and had been there 
nearly six days Avith scarcely a picket fire on their immediate front. 
On this morning the troops had finished their simple breakfast and 
were standing around waiting events of the day. ^''one were aware 
that a movement by the enemy was going on beyond the old line of 
works, and certainly the Confederates had no knowledge that he 
had started at daylight a real attack of our lines. If these move- 
ments took place at 4 or 4:30 A. M., they must have been in march- 
ing to and over the old abandoned works which he terms "captur- 



16 

ing"' the first and second lines, and for the purpose of getting into 
positions and arranging for the assault when it did take place. The 
old works were abandoned and deserted days before and needed no 
capture, and no Confederate works with troops behind them were 
captured thi^ day. About 8 A. M.> attention was attracted to the 
commotion of the enemy in and near the old deserted works, appar- 
ently about to advance, and the pickets and skirmishers of the 
Confederates were called in. All were astonished at this and could 
not believe a serious attempt would be made to assail such a line 
as Ewell had, in open day, over such a distance. Everv one on the 
Confederate side felt that such an attack was reckless, and hopeless 
in the extreme. So when it was found that a real assault was to be 
made, it was welcomed by the Confederates as an opportunity to 
pay off old scores. The Confederate artillerymen were ordered to 
take their place& at the guns and to fire on those troops first with 
solid shot through the woods and with shells through the cleared 
o})enings. Soon the enemy's guns opened on ours, but scarcely a 
response was made to them from us on this front, his purpose with 
the masses of Federal infantry in view showing clearly where our 
fire should be concentrated. This infantry in the column forma- 
tions as they are described in the reports, stepped out rapidly, with 
their muskets at a "right shoulder shift,'' in successive lines, ap- 
parently several brigades deep, well aligned and steady, without 
bands, but with flags flying, a most magnificent and thrilling sight, 
covering Ewell's whole front as far as could be seen. x\s this host 
got M'ell under way orders were given to change fire to case shot 
(Sehrapnel) and shells. By this time the assaulting- columns in- 
creased their gait to a double quick, and on they came, shells and 
case (Sehrapnel) shot tearing great gaps in their ranks^ the roaring 
guns and wavering lines of Federal infantry still advancing, the 
scene was wonderfully inspiring to the Confederates. 

Orders were given to be ready with canister, the enemy still ad- 
\aneing, hut shaky. Soon his front columns came Mathin canister 
range, and under this fire of combined canister and case (Sehrap- 
nel), he could not stand, and broke in confusion, leaving the field 
ill disorder and his dead in front of our works. As soon as the 
Federal infantry had been driven from the field, orders were given 
to "cease firing," to save ammunition, not knowing if this or other 
Federal infantry would repeat the assault. The enemy's artillery 



17 

fitill continued firinp- at our lines as they had done throughout the 
assault. As the Confederate guns had repulsed the Federal in- 
fantry, it was unnecessary to waste ammunition at long range in 
])ractice of artillery against artillery. Probably this is why some of 
the reports speak of silencing the Confederate guns. ' Not a gun 
was struck or even temporarily disabled during this action. 

It is impossible to conceive that any such dramatic scenes took 
place in this assault of infantry lines standing in front of the slash- 
ings and abatis delivering volleys into our works, as some of these 
reports indicate. Xo matter what orders for retiring had passed to 
the rear of the assaulting columns, those in front were absolutely 
routed. 

That a hopeless undertaking was imposed on brave, veteran, sol- 
diers, the very flower of the Federal Army in this effort, there can 
be no doubt, but the task was impossible and they did all that brave 
men could do. 

Some of the finest officers in the Federal Army were there in that 
assault, many since distinguished in both military and civil life — 
Lieutenant-General Miles, Major-General Brooke, Governor Hart- 
ranft, and others were there. 

There should be no reflection on these brave men, though in 
greater numbers, any more than on Pickett's men in a similar 
efiPort at Gettysburg. 

The recital of this engagement brings out prominently three 
])oints of great interest and especially to soldiers of an artillery 
organization : 

1st. The repulse of the heavy assaulting columns of the enemy, 
was practically by the destructive fire of artillery alone. 

3nd. That this mass of infantry charging over the gradually 
rising, partly open, plateau for over half a mile in extent in the 
face of intrenched, well posted, and well served artillery, could not 
hope to carry such a position as Ewell's Corps held. 

3rd That the meagre published accounts of the affair by the com- 
manding generals on either side, illustrates, as is often the case, 
the overlooking of important and effective work of the artillery 
branch of an army. 



